Window system for convertible motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a window system for convertible motor vehicles that incorporates the use of woven fabric made from vinyl coated polyester yarn in such a way that it (1) reduces the “greenhouse effect” that occurs when the soft-covering system is on the vehicle, whether the window is open or not (2) reduces the harmful unwanted effects the sun can have on the driver, the passengers and the interior of the passenger compartment, (3) reduces the airflow that occurs when the vehicle is driven with one or more flexible windows down, (4) makes it more difficult for a passerby to see into the passenger compartment, while still allowing an occupant to see the outside from inside the passenger compartment and (5) protects the flexible window from being scratched or otherwise damaged.

This application claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/035,969 filed Nov. 9, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,045 and is acontinuation thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of convertiblesoft-covering systems for motor vehicles, and particularly to windowsystems for use on a motor vehicle with a convertible soft-coveringsystem.

BACKGROUND

One of the purposes of operating a motor vehicle with a convertiblesoft-covering system is to be able to modify the soft-covering system tofit to a variety of situations. Weather permitting, the soft-coveringsystem can be removed (or retracted) so that the user of the motorvehicle can directly enjoy the sunshine and the outside air. If theweather is inclement on the other hand, the soft-covering system can beput on the vehicle so that the user is protected from unwanted elementslike rain, snow or the sun.

Accordingly, a soft-covering system should be able to adapt to a varietyof situations while also remaining (1) easy to use (2) easy to modify,and (3) effective at keeping undesirable elements (like rain and snow,for example) out of the vehicle's passenger compartment while allowingdesirable elements (like fresh air, for example) into the vehicle'spassenger compartment. Information relevant to address this problem canbe found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,151 (Bernard), U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,455(Doi et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,495 (Berman), U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,634(Oshiro), U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566 (Gore), U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,528(Bergstrom). Each one of these referenced items, however, suffers fromone or more of the following disadvantages.

A flexible window of the typical soft-covering system must be eitheropened or closed, it cannot be opened “a little bit” like the ordinaryretractable windows found on non-convertible vehicles. The typicalflexible window is secured to the soft-covering system by a zipper,requiring that the window cannot be adjustably lowered, but must beeither “open” or “closed.” The typical flexible window can only beopened by unzipping the flexible window and folding it into thepassenger compartment. The typical flexible window can only be closed byzipping up the zipper that secures the flexible window to thesoft-covering.

On some hot days, it is desirable to travel with the soft-coveringsystem on the vehicle to shield the passenger compartment from directsunlight. As a consequence, if the flexible windows are closed, thetemperature of passenger compartment can reach very high temperatures,at least in part because of the “greenhouse effect” caused by thesunlight coming through the translucent flexible windows.

Opening the flexible window does not solve the problem of directsunlight. Moreover, leaving the flexible windows open when the vehicleis parked makes it easier for a passerby to see into the passengercompartment. Likewise, leaving the flexible window open also allows thesun to prematurely weather the interior of the passenger compartment. Inaddition, leaving the window open can expose the driver and thepassenger to the unwanted effects of the sun, other elements andinsects.

Opening the flexible window also creates excessive airflow though thepassenger compartment when the vehicle is moving. The excessive airflowmakes it uncomfortable for the passengers and driver because of the highwind and noise created by the excessive airflow.

In addition, the flexible window of the typical soft-covering system isexposed to the outside and can be easily scratched by branches and otherobjects, particularly when the vehicle is driven “off-road.” Over time,the flexible window can become so scratched that it becomes difficultfor the driver and passengers to see though the flexible window.

What is needed is a component for a soft-covering system that (1)reduces the “greenhouse effect” that occurs when the soft-coveringsystem is on the vehicle, whether the window is open or not (2) reducesthe harmful unwanted effects the sun can have on the driver, thepassengers and the interior of the passenger compartment, (3) reducesthe airflow that occurs when the vehicle is driven with one or more softwindows down, (4) makes it more difficult for a passerby to see into thepassenger compartment, while still allowing an occupant to see theoutside from inside the passenger compartment, and (5) protects theflexible window from being scratched or otherwise damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a component for asoft-covering system that (1) reduces the “greenhouse effect” thatoccurs when the soft-covering system is on the vehicle, whether thewindow is open or not (2) reduces the harmful unwanted effects the suncan have on the driver, the passengers and the interior of the passengercompartment, (3) reduces the airflow and/or road noise that occurs whenthe vehicle is driven with one or more flexible windows either in the upor down position, (4) makes it more difficult for a passerby to see intothe passenger compartment, while still allowing an occupant to see theoutside from inside the passenger compartment and (5) protects theflexible window from being scratched or otherwise damaged.

The invention is a window system for use on a motor vehicle with aconvertible soft-covering system. The three major components of thewindow system are (1) a flexible window 10, (2) a soft-cover windowframe 20, and (3) an insertable screen 30. The flexible window 10 has afirst window side 12, a second window side 14 and a window perimeterarea 16. The soft-cover window frame 20 has an outside frame side 22 andan inside frame side 24. The insertable screen 30 has a first screenside 32 and a second screen side 34. To utilize this invention, thefirst screen side 32 of the insertable screen 30 may be matingly coupledto the window perimeter area 16 on the second window side 14 of theflexible window 10. In addition the second screen side 34 may bematingly coupled with the inside window frame 24.

The invention significantly reduces the amount of sunlight that canenter the passenger compartment when the flexible window is both in theopen and the closed position. Accordingly, the invention significantlyreduces the greenhouse effect on the passenger compartment of the motorvehicle. This invention reduces the harmful unwanted effects the sun canhave on the driver, the passengers and the interior of the passengercompartment. This invention reduces the airflow and noise in thepassenger compartment when the flexible window is down and the vehicleis moving and still allows the driver and the passengers to see out thewindow opening. This invention also reduces a passerby's ability to seeinto the passenger compartment when the vehicle is parked and prevents apasserby from simply reaching into the passenger compartment and takingsomething when the flexible window is down. This invention also protectsthe flexible window from being scratched or otherwise damaged.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its structure and its operation togetherwith the additional object and advantages thereof will best beunderstood from the following description of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words andphrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary andaccustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art orarts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification willspecifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word orphrase.

Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Descriptionof Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invokethe special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define theinvention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), theclaims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” anda function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure,material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recitea “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also reciteany structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, thenthe intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6.

Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, areinvoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions notbe limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that aredescribed in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any andall structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function,along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures,materials or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the window system without theinsertable screen.

FIG. 2 is a view of an embodiment of the window system having aninsertable screen.

FIG. 3 is a view of another embodiment of the window system having atleast two insertable screens.

FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment of an insertable screen having aninner screen and an outer screen, with the strands of fabric of theinner screen and the strands of fabric of the outer screen being alignedwith each other.

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of an insertable screen having aninner screen and an outer screen, with the strands of fabric of theinner screen rotated approximately 45 degrees from the strands of fabricof the outer screen.

FIG. 6 is a view of an embodiment of the window system where the sparetire gate is open.

FIG. 6A is a view of an embodiment of the window system showing thebottom side of the insertable screen pinched between the spare tire gateand the back gate of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is a window system for use on a motor vehicle with aconvertible soft-covering system. The three major components of thewindow system are (1) a flexible window 10, (2) a soft-cover windowframe 20, and (3) an insertable screen 30. The flexible window 10 has afirst window side 12, a second window side 14 and a window perimeterarea 16. The soft-cover window frame 20 has an outside frame side 22 andan inside frame side 24. The insertable screen 30 has a first screenside 32 and a second screen side 34. In the preferred embodiment, thefirst screen side 32 of the insertable screen 30 is matingly coupled tothe window perimeter area 16 on the second window side 14 of theflexible window 10. In addition the second screen side 34 is matinglycoupled with the inside window frame 24.

Many methods of coupling the elements of this invention are known. It ispreferred to use hook and loop type fasteners to matingly coupleelements of the invention. The hook and loop type fastener may be anylon material made with both a surface of tiny hooks and acomplimentary surface of clinging pile, used in matching strips that canbe pressed together or pulled apart for easy fastening and unfastening.One example of the hook and loop type fasteners is sold commerciallyunder the trademark VELCRO® by Velcro Industries, B.V. In this regard,U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 and related patents might be of interest. Themost preferred hook and loop type fastener has a sticky backside and isbetween one-half of an inch and one inch wide. One example of this typeof fastener is sold commercially under the trademark VELCRO® STICKYBACK® by Velcro Industries, B.V. Other methods of matingly coupling twoelements together (e.g., zippers, buttons, snaps, magnets or magnetstrips) may also be used.

The hook and loop type fasteners can be attached to the elements of theinvention by sewing or gluing or preferably both sewing and gluing.Sewing can be accomplished using marine grade thread. It is preferableto use thread sold commercially by Saunders Thread Company that has beenspun with fiber sold commercially under the trademark NOMEX® by E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company. It has been found that clear vinyl glueswill work as will many other glues. It is preferred to use glue soldcommercially under the trademark Quickgrab™ by Quick Grab, Inc.

It is most preferable to use hook and loop type fasteners alreadysecured to the soft-covering system. For example, the ChryslerCorporation's Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) soft-covering system(top and doors) for the convertible motor vehicle sold under thetrademark JEEP® between the years 1990–2002 already has hook and looptype fasteners sewn into the inside frame side 24 and the second windowside 14 of the door. Accordingly it is preferred to matingly couple theinsertable screen 30 to the inside frame side 24 and the second windowside 14 of Chrysler Corporation's Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM)soft-covering system for the convertible motor vehicle sold under thetrademark JEEP® to the hook and loop type fasteners already connected tothe soft-covering system.

Not all sides of the insertable screen need be matingly coupled. Aspreviously described, the bottom side of the back window on ChryslerCorporation's Original Equipment Manufactured (OEM) soft-covering systemfor the convertible motor vehicle sold under the trademark JEEP® can bematingly coupled by using magnetic strips on the bottom side of the backwindow and matingly coupling the bottom side to the back gate of thevehicle. Alternatively, the bottom side 41 of the back window 40 canalso be secured by pinching the bottom side 41 between the spare tiregate 43 and the back gate 42 when closing the spare tire gate 43, asseen in FIGS. 6 and 6A.

The insertable screen should be woven in a manner to substantially blocksunlight while allowing a person inside the passenger compartment toview the outside. For example, it is preferred that the insertablescreen be a woven fabric of vinyl coated polyester yarn capable ofscreening at least some sunlight. While many products may work, apreferred example is a product sold by Phifer Wire Products, Inc. underthe trademark Phifer SUNTEX.® On its website, www.phifer.com, Phiferclaims that Phifer SUNTEX® product “offers excellent outward visibilityand good ventilation” and blocks over 75% of the sun's rays.

In an alternative embodiment, the insertable screen 30 further comprisestwo screens, an inner screen 36 and an outer screen 38. It is preferredto rotate the inner screen 36 with respect to the outer screen 38 sothat the strands of fabric of the inner screen 36 and the outer screen38 are not aligned with each other. See FIGS. 4 and 5. It is mostpreferred that the strands of fabric of the inner screen 36 are rotatedapproximately 45 degrees from the strands of fabric of the outer screen38. See FIG. 5.

In another alternative embodiment, one or more insertable screens 30 maybe matingly coupled to each other before being matingly coupled to thewindow perimeter area 16 on the second window side 14 of the flexiblewindow 10 and the inside window frame 24. The capability of using one ormore insertable screens provides flexibility in the amount of protectionavailable for differing conditions.

This invention significantly reduces the greenhouse effect on thepassenger compartment of the motor vehicle by reducing the amount ofsunlight entering the passenger compartment regardless of whether theflexible window is up or down. This invention also reduces the airflowand noise in the passenger compartment when the flexible window is downand the vehicle is moving while allowing the driver and the passengersto see out the window opening. This invention also reduces the abilityof a passerby to see into the passenger compartment when the vehicle isparked and prevents a passerby from simply reaching into the passengercompartment and taking something when the flexible window is down.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in theDrawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While thesedescriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understoodthat those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/orvariations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Anysuch modifications or variations that fall within the purview of thisdescription are intended to be included therein as well. Unlessspecifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the wordsand phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary andaccustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s).The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of theinvention known to the applicant at the time of filing the applicationhas been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications andvariations are possible in the light of the above teachings. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application and to enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A method for using a window system on a passenger compartment of amotor vehicle with a convertible soft-covering system comprising thesteps of: A. providing a flexible window of the convertiblesoft-covering system having a first window side, a second window side,and a window perimeter area; B. providing a soft cover window frame ofthe convertible soft covering system having an outside frame side and aninside frame side; C. providing an insertable screen having a firstscreen side and a second screen side and a bottom side; D. matinglycoupling the window perimeter area on the second window side with thefirst screen side; E. matingly coupling the second screen side with theinside frame side of the soft cover window frame of the window systemfor use on the passenger compartment.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising the steps of: A. matingly coupling the window perimeter areaon the second window side with the first screen side using hook and looptype fasteners; and B. matingly coupling the second screen side with theinside frame side of the soft cover window frame using hook and looptype fasteners.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step ofmaking the insertable screen of a woven vinyl coated fabric.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the step of using the insertablescreen to block sunlight in an amount between 55 percent and 95 percent.5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of using theinsertable screen to block sunlight in an amount of approximately 75percent.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step ofincluding an inner screen and an outer screen as part of the insertablescreen.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of makingthe inner and outer screens of a woven vinyl coated fabric.
 8. Themethod of claim 6 further comprising the step of using the inner andouter screen to block sunlight in an amount between 55 percent and 95percent.
 9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of usingthe inner and outer screen to block approximately 75 percent of thesunlight.
 10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step ofrotating the inner screen with respect to the outer screen so that thestrands of fabric of the inner screen and the outer screen are notaligned with each other.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step ofrotating the strands of fabric of the inner screen with respect to theouter screen comprises rotating the strands of fabric of the innerscreen approximately 45 degrees from the strands of fabric of the outerscreen.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: A.providing a second insertable screen having a third screen side and afourth screen side; B. matingly coupling the second screen side with thethird screen side, C. matingly coupling the fourth screen side with theinside frame side of the soft cover window frame.
 13. The method ofclaim 12 further comprising the step of making the second insertablescreen of a woven vinyl coated fabric.
 14. A method for using a windowsystem on a motor vehicle with a convertible soft covering systemcomprising the steps of: A. providing a flexible window having a firstwindow side, a second window side, and a window perimeter area; B.providing a soft cover window frame having an outside frame side and aninside frame side; C. providing an insertable screen having a firstscreen side and a second screen side and a bottom side; D. providing aspare tire gate and a back gate; E. matingly coupling the windowperimeter area on the second window with the first screen side; F.matingly coupling the second screen side with the inside frame side ofthe soft cover window frame; G. pinching the bottom side of theinsertable screen between the spare tire gate and the back gate.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 further comprising the step of making the insertablescreen of a woven vinyl coated fabric.